Bowling aid

ABSTRACT

A system for enhancing ball control by a bowler when swinging and releasing a bowling ball, and corresponding method of formation, are disclosed. A rigid sleeve is placed over the thumb of the bowler. The rigid sleeve is dimensioned and configured to fit in close cooperation with and slide readily along a thumbhole of the bowling ball, and to grip and be retained on the thumb. The thumb and rigid sleeve are inserted in the thumbhole. The bowling ball is then swung and released, while retaining the rigid sleeve on the thumb. The interior of the rigid sleeve may be coated with a tacky substance or may have installed thereon a shimming material. When swinging and releasing the bowling ball, the thumb and rigid sleeve may be withdrawn from the thumbhole prior to fingers being withdrawn from the finger holes. Ends of the rigid sleeve may be rounded to eliminate sharp edges.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/133,663, filed Mar. 16, 2015,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the bowling arts, and more specificallyto advances in ball control in the bowling arts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bowling requires bowlers to hold a bowling ball, to accelerate thebowling ball towards a distant array of bowling pins by swinging thebowling ball, and to release the accelerated bowling ball in thedirection of the pins. Success of each throw of the bowling ballrequires that the bowling ball be carefully aimed at a pocket of thearray, or towards specific pins, where some pins have already beenknocked down. Bowling balls have sufficient weight so that maneuveringthe bowling ball during release entails a number of problems. Oneproblem is that the ball must be grasped with sufficient force tomaintain manual control. Another is to avoid altering intended spin or“English” of the bowling ball and the trajectory of the bowling ballduring release of grasp. Even if these objectives can be achieved, thereremains the issue of injury to the hand. The thumb and fingers of abowler are subject to chafing, forming of blisters and calluses, cuts,and other problems by contact with the thumbhole of the bowling ball.There remains a need in bowling for a device which eases the burden ofsupporting, aiming, and releasing a bowling ball.

SUMMARY

The above noted problems are addressed by a bowling aid including arigid sleeve enveloping the thumb of the bowler. The rigid sleeveencases that portion of the thumb occupying the thumbhole of a bowlingball, and may project outside the thumbhole. The rigid sleeve is worn onthe thumb during the act of accelerating and releasing the bowling ball,and remains on the thumb throughout the entire throw.

The exterior of the rigid sleeve has low friction characteristics, sothat the rigid sleeve slides along the thumbhole without significantresistance as the thumb and rigid sleeve pull away from the bowling ballduring release.

Optionally, internal frictional characteristics of the rigid sleeve maybe increased by use of a solid lining, such as a natural or syntheticrubber sheath which contacts the interior of the rigid sleeve, or by atacky substance coating the interior of the rigid sleeve. A solid liningmay also be used to improve fit of the thumb to the interior of therigid sleeve.

Use of the rigid sleeve, with or without frictional enhancement of theinterior surface, overcomes the manual effort of grasping a bowling ballwithout such a rigid sleeve. Also, the thumb is protected from abrasion,pinching, and other causes of injury to the thumb. More specifically,the sleeve eliminates injured thumb knuckles, sides, and webbing of thethumb. Elimination of effort and injury free the bowler fromdistractions which otherwise tend to distort the ideal motion of thehand when releasing the bowling ball from manual grasp. This improvesthe ability of a bowler to control the ball, at a conscious level, asubconscious level, or both. Ball accuracy, ball speed and revolutionrate, and hence favorable bowling results are thereby enhanced.

Because of reduced attention and effort required when releasing abowling ball, consistency of control and effort from one swing andrelease of a bowling ball to subsequent swings and releases is improved.

The Applicant has from experience found that when releasing or launchinga bowling ball, a greater degree of control of its movement may beexercised by first quickly releasing the thumb from the thumbhole duringthe swinging of the ball prior to the launching of the same whilepermitting the two fingers to dwell in the finger holes until the ballreaches a more advanced position. By first quickly releasing the thumbwhile the two fingers remain in the finger holes, the rotation motion ofthe ball may be regulated at its time of launching to more accuratelydirect the ball toward the particular location where it is desired tostrike the pins, thus making it possible to substantially increaseeffectiveness of the throw or launch. Use of the novel sleeve results ineffortless thumb release, without distortion of the trajectory of thebowling ball, as though the thumb were not in a hole in the bowlingball. Among other effects, a bowler will be able to generate ballrotation rates similar to competitors who do not insert the thumb intothe ball.

In a further improvement, a bowling ball may be provided with a positiveaxis point indicator.

In another improvement, the rigid sleeve may bear raised indicia.

It is an object to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof byapparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable,and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects will become readily apparent upon further reviewof the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the disclosurewill become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understoodwhen considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichlike reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an environmental plan view of a rigid sleeve to be used toenhance ball control by a bowler, according to at least one aspect ofthe disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an environmental perspective view of the rigid sleeve of FIG.1 worn on the thumb of the bowler and inserted into a bowling ball;

FIG. 3 is an environmental cross sectional view of the rigid sleeve ofFIG. 1, shown installed in a thumbhole of the bowling ball of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of the rigid sleeve of FIG. 1,showing a tacky substance applied to the interior of the rigid sleeve;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the rigid sleeve of FIG. 1,showing a shimming material lining the interior of the rigid sleeve;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a bowling ball improved by the rigid sleeve ofFIGS. 4 and 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of optional indicia on the rigid sleeve ofFIGS. 4 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 1, according to at least one aspect of thedisclosure, there is shown a rigid sleeve 100 shown placed over a thumb2 of a hand 4 of a bowler (not shown in his or her entirety). The tip 6of thumb 2 is shown projecting outside rigid sleeve 100 to the right, asseen in FIG. 1. Rigid sleeve 100 may if desired be long enough toenclose tip 6 of thumb 2.

In certain exemplary embodiments, rigid sleeve 100 may comprise a lengthof tubing material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing. PVC tubingof the type commonly sold at retail facilities/stores for householdplumbing is suitable, although furniture grade PVC tubing is currentlyregarded as having desirable additional properties. In exemplaryembodiments, these properties include strength, ultraviolet radiationresistance, commercial availability in diverse colors, low or notoxicity, and glossy surface finish. The latter characteristic mayresult in a quicker release from a bowler's grasp, compared to othergrades of PVC tubing. This type of product also exhibits suitablefriction characteristics for the outside surface 108 of rigid sleeve100. The friction characteristics are those that would avoid alteringthe trajectory of a bowling ball 10 or spin or rotation characteristicsof bowling ball 10 when throwing or releasing bowling ball 10 from thegrasp of the bowler.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary grasp of bowling ball 10 by the bowler,wherein rigid sleeve 100 is installed on thumb 2 of the bowler, andinserted into a thumbhole 8 of bowling ball 10. A portion 110 of rigidsleeve 100 is exposed outside thumbhole 8. Fingers 12 of the bowler areinserted into respective finger holes 14 of bowling ball 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates representative seating of rigid sleeve 100 withinthumbhole 8. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, overall length 106(see FIG. 4) of rigid sleeve 100 is greater than the depth 16 ofthumbhole 8.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3-5 but also to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isshown one exemplary embodiment of a bowler's aid 90 for engaging andreleasing a bowling ball 10. In this exemplary embodiment, bowler's aid100 comprises a rigid sleeve 100 having a length 106 of 1.0 to 2.0inches, an interior diameter 104 of 0.8 to 1.2 inches, an outsidediameter 102 of 1.0 to 1.5 inches, a first rounded end 18, and anopposed second rounded end 18. The final length 106 may be determinedbased on comfort of and ease of use by the bowler. If desired, in anexemplary embodiment length 106 of rigid sleeve 100 may be such thatrigid sleeve 100 is entirely contained within thumbhole 8. Outside andinterior diameters 102 and 104, length 106, and outside surface 108 areidentified in FIG. 4.

It should be noted that in the aforementioned exemplary embodiment firstand second rounded ends 18 are rounded both at the exterior of rigidsleeve 100 and also at the interior thereof. This minimizes frictionalengagement of edges of rigid sleeve 100 when a bowler inserts his thumb2 into the bowling aid. In one exemplary implementation of FIGS. 1-5,rigid sleeve 100 comprises polyvinyl chloride constituency. Inadditional implementations, other materials, such as metals and alloys,wood, other plastics, ceramics, and combinations of these are used tocomprise any portion of or the entirety of rigid sleeve 100.

Turning momentarily to FIG. 5, optionally, the bowler's aid may furthercomprise a shim 114 inside an interior surface 116 of rigid sleeve 100.In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, shim 114 is annular, so that itboth cooperates with interior surface 116 and also presents a similarlyconfigured surface for engagement of thumb 2 after shim 114 has beeninstalled in rigid sleeve 100.

In another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, the bowler's aid ofFIGS. 1-5 further comprises a tacky substance 112 on interior surface116 of rigid sleeve 100. In this particular illustrated embodiment,tacky substance 112 covers a first portion of interior surface 116 andis absent on a second portion of interior surface 116. That portion ofinterior surface 116 on which tacky substance 112 is absent is shownunstippled in FIG. 4. In the example of FIG. 4, the first portion ofinterior surface 116 covered by tacky substance 112 accounts for morethan half of interior surface 116. The first portion of interior surface116 covered by tacky substance 112 extends to one rounded end 18 anddoes not extend to the opposed rounded end 18.

In certain embodiments, tacky substance 112 may be for example acommercially available spray or viscous fluid adhesive. Shimmingmaterial 114 may be a fabric, vinyl adhesive tape, or a natural orsynthetic rubber sleeve, among other possibilities.

FIG. 4 shows a tacky substance 112 applied as a thin film or coating ona portion of the interior surface 116 of rigid sleeve 100. The thin filmmay be for example 0.001 to 0.020 inch in thickness, and may cover forexample 0.75 to 1.0 inch along length 106 of rigid sleeve 100. FIG. 5shows a shimming material 114 installed on a portion of interior surface116. Tacky substance 112 or shimming material 114 may be employed wherethe fit of rigid sleeve 100 over thumb 2 is not tight enough to assurethat rigid sleeve 100 will be retained on thumb 2 when thumb 2 iswithdrawn from thumbhole 8 when releasing bowling ball 10 from the graspof the bowler.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the bowler's aid may further comprise indiciaformed as raised symbols 120 on the outside surface 108 of rigid sleeve100. To form raised symbols 120, the constituent material of rigidsleeve 100, if formed from a synthetic resin, may be heated untillocalized swelling occurs.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a matched set of bowling ball 10 and abowler's aid for engaging and releasing bowling ball 10 are provided.The matched set may comprise bowling ball 10 including a plurality offinger holes 14, and a thumbhole 8 having an internal diameter 16 and adepth 18. The matched set may also include a bowler's aid comprisingrigid sleeve 100 having an outside diameter 102 slightly less than theinternal diameter of thumbhole 8, length 106 greater than depth 18 ofthumbhole 8. In certain exemplary embodiments, the length 106 of rigidsleeve 100 may be 1.0 to 2.0 inches, or on that order, the interiordiameter 104 of rigid sleeve 100 may be 0.8 to 1.2 inches, or on thatorder, and the outside diameter 102 of rigid sleeve 100 may be 1.0 to1.5 inches, or on that order. Rigid sleeve 100 may also include a firstrounded end 18 and an opposed rounded end 18.

In certain exemplary matched set embodiments, rigid sleeve 100 maycomprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC) constituency.

An exemplary such matched set may further comprise shim 114 insideinterior surface 116 of rigid sleeve 100. In the matched set, shim 114may be annular.

The matched set may further comprise tacky substance 112 on interiorsurface 116 of rigid sleeve 100. Tacky substance 112 may comprisegeneral purpose adhesives, plastic materials which naturally exposetextured surfaces such as bubbles and wrinkles. It may also comprise anyother known material or known combinations known to skilled persons.

In one exemplary embodiment of the matched set, tacky substance 112covers a first portion of interior surface 116 and is absent on a secondportion of interior surface 116 (e.g., that portion of interior surfaceshown without stippling in FIG. 4), the first portion of interiorsurface 116 covered by tacky substance 112 accounts for more than halfof interior surface 116, and the first portion of interior surface 116covered by tacky substance 112 extends to one rounded end 18 and doesnot extend to an opposed rounded end 18.

Turning now to FIG. 6, the matched set may further comprise a visualaxis indicator 118 located at an intersection of an axis of rotation 22and a hypothetical extension of thumbhole 8. In FIG. 6, visual axisindicator 118 is a positive axis point indicator. If desired, visualaxis indicator 118 could be located to indicate the negative axis. Twovisual axis indicators 118 could be provided to indicate both positiveand negative axis points, via appropriate positioning on bowling ball10.

In the example of FIG. 6, visual axis indicator 118 may comprise anannular ring inset in bowling ball 10. The annular ring may be flushwith the outer surface of bowling ball 10, or alternatively, may beslightly recessed into bowling ball 10. Bowling ball 10 may be drilledto the same diameter as thumbhole 8 to receive the annular ring. Theannular ring may be taken for example from the stock material used forrigid sleeve 100.

The above described items may be utilized in a method of enhancing ballcontrol by a bowler when swinging and releasing bowling ball 10. In oneexample of the method of enhancing ball control by the bowler whenswinging and releasing the bowling ball in the grip of the bowlercomprises lining a thumbhole of the bowling ball with an annular rigidhole liner (e.g., rigid sleeve 100) having an external slide surface 108slidably engaging a surface of thumbhole 8, wherein the annular rigidhole liner is sufficiently rigid to avoid deformation when subjected tocontact with hand 4 of the bowler while bowling, and is dimensioned andconfigured to fit in close cooperation with and slide readily alongthumbhole 8 of bowling ball 10. The method further comprises slidablywithdrawing the annular rigid hole liner from thumbhole 8 when the ball(i.e., bowling ball 10) is released from the grip of the bowler.

The method may further comprise coating at least a portion of aninterior of the annular rigid hole liner (e.g., interior surface 116 ofrigid sleeve 100) with tacky substance 112 prior to swinging andreleasing bowling ball 10.

The method optionally further comprises reducing interior diameter 104of at least a portion of the annular rigid hole liner (rigid sleeve 100)prior to swinging and releasing bowling ball 10.

The method further comprises rounding at least a portion of at least oneend of the annular rigid hole liner (e.g., resulting in rounded ends 18)prior to swinging and releasing bowling ball 10.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatare considered the most practical exemplary embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the present embodiments are not to be limited to thedisclosed arrangements, but rather the description is intended to covervarious arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope ofthe broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as toencompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which arepossible.

It should be understood that the various examples of the apparatus(es)disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, andfunctionalities of any of the other examples of the apparatus(es)disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all of suchpossibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. Many modifications of examples set forth herein willcome to mind to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosurepertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoingdescriptions and the associated drawings.

What is claimed:
 1. A method of forming a bowling ball to enhance ballcontrol by a bowler when swinging and releasing the bowling ball in agrip of the bowler, comprising: lining a thumbhole of the bowling ballwith an annular rigid hole liner comprising an external slide surfaceslidably engaging a surface of a thumbhole of the bowling ball; formingthe annular rigid hole liner to be is sufficiently rigid to avoiddeformation thereof when subjected to contact with a hand of the bowler,to be configured to fit in close cooperation with and slide readilyalong the thumbhole and to be slidably withdrawn from the thumbhole whenthe ball is released from the grip of the bowler.
 2. The method of claim1, further comprising coating at least a portion of an interior of theannular rigid hole liner with a tacky substance prior to swinging andreleasing the bowling ball.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingforming an interior diameter of at least a portion of the annular rigidhole liner enabled to be reduced in diameter prior to usage thereof inswinging and releasing a said bowling ball.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising forming at least a portion of at least one end of theannular rigid hole liner to be rounded prior to usage thereof inswinging and releasing a said bowling ball.
 5. A bowler's aid forengaging and releasing a bowling ball, the bowler's aid comprising: arigid sleeve having a length of approximately 1.0 to 2.0 inches; aninterior diameter approximately of 0.8 to 1.2 inches; an outsidediameter approximately of 1.0 to 1.5 inches; a first rounded end; and anopposed second rounded end.
 6. The bowler's aid of claim 5, wherein theconstituency of the rigid sleeve comprises polyvinyl chloride.
 7. Thebowler's aid of claim 5, further comprising a shim inside an interiorsurface of the rigid sleeve.
 8. The bowler's aid of claim 7, wherein theshim is of an annular shape.
 9. The bowler's aid of claim 5, furthercomprising a tacky substance covering a first portion of an interiorsurface of the rigid sleeve.
 10. The bowler's aid of claim 9, whereinthe tacky substance covers a first portion of the interior surface. 11.The bowler's aid of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the interiorsurface covered by the tacky substance accounts for more than half ofthe entirety of the interior surface.
 12. The bowler's aid of claim 10,wherein the first portion of the interior surface covered by the tackysubstance extends to one rounded end and does not extend to the opposedrounded end.
 13. The bowler's aid of claim 5, further comprising indiciaformed as raised symbols on the outside surface of the rigid sleeve. 14.A matched set of a bowling ball and a bowler's aid for engaging andreleasing the bowling ball, the matched set comprising: a bowling ballcomprising a plurality of finger holes and a thumbhole; and a bowler'said comprising a rigid sleeve, the outside diameter thereof being lessthan the internal diameter of the thumbhole, the length of the rigidsleeve being greater than the depth of the thumbhole, the length of therigid sleeve being approximately 1.0 to 2.0 inches, the interiordiameter being approximately 0.8 to 1.2 inches, and the outside diameterbeing approximately 1.0 to 1.5 inches, the rigid sleeve furthercomprising a first rounded end and an opposed rounded end.
 15. Thematched set of claim 14, wherein the constituency of the rigid sleevecomprises polyvinyl chloride.
 16. The matched set of claim 14, furthercomprising a shim inside an interior surface of the rigid sleeve, theshim being of an annular shape.
 17. The matched set of claim 16, whereinthe tacky substance covers a first portion of said interior surface,wherein the first portion being covered by the tacky substance accountsfor more than half of the interior surface, and wherein the firstportion being covered by the tacky substance extends to the firstrounded end without extending to the opposed rounded end.
 18. Thematched set of claim 14, further comprising a visual axis indicatorlocated at an intersection of an axis of rotation and a hypotheticalextension of the thumbhole.
 19. The matched set of claim 18, wherein thevisual axis indicator is a positive axis point indicator.
 20. Thematched set of claim 18, wherein the visual axis indicator comprises anannular ring inset in the bowling ball.